Search This Blog

Art Wednesday

When I saw "Starry Night over the Rhone" (1880) by Vincent Van Gogh on loan at the National Gallery of Australia I was amazed at its beauty. I had seen it in books and found it rather flat and not very interesting, but in real life it comes alive - with its brilliant blues and yellows. The painting captures the reflections of the gas lighting in Arles across the glimmering blue water of the Rhône. In the foreground, two lovers stroll by the banks of the river.

Vincent Van Gogh (1853 - 1890)
Dutch Impressionist painter

Although Vincent van Gogh eventually became the most recognizable name in nineteenth century art, he didn't always seem destined for life as a painter. Indeed, it wasn't until the age of 27 when, after brief sojourns into different professions -- including those of art dealer, teacher, and lay minister -- van Gogh devoted himself to painting.

In a short period of ten years Van Gogh made approximately 900 paintings. Vincent only sold one painting (Red Vine) during his lifetime and only became famous after his death. His brother Theo was his biggest and most faithful fan, to whom Vincent wrote over 800 letters to. Theo died 6 months after Vincent. Theo's wife collected Vincent’s paintings and letters after his death and dedicated herself to getting his work the recognition it deserved.

Vincent was an unstable and volatile and well known as the tortured artist who cut off part of his own ear. The events leading up to this tragic accident were related to his friendship with Paul Gauguin. Vincent persuaded Gauguin to leave Brittany and join him in Arles. At first their relationship was amicable but after about two months the artists started to argue. On one fated occasion van Gogh, in a terrible rage threatened Gauguin with a razor. Van Gogh calmed down later in the day and was filled with horror and remorse for the possible consequences of such an argument. As a result of this, and his instability, the tortured artist cut off part of his own ear. He voluntarily entered the asylum of Saint-Remy suffering with depression. Vincent Van Gogh sadly committed suicide at the age of 37 years old.

Van Gogh always felt that he never successed in anything he did, if only he knew how popular his works would become. His painting “Irises” sold in 1987 for $53.9 million (in today's terms $102.7million). He most certainly "made it" in the art world.

"Red Vine" - the only painting Van Gogh sold

Sunflowers (1888)

I have also had the honour of seeing this painting as well but it didn't have the same magic or impact as the one about did. This is one of several versions of sunflowers that van Gogh painted. This version of 15 flowers was painted in Arles, in 1888. It now hangs in the National Gallery in London

"Starry Night"
Van Gogh created his most famous work The Starry Night while staying in an asylum in Saint-Remy-de-Provence, France.

"Fishing in Spring"

"Flower Beds"

This painting best resembles the Impressionist style of art, which he moves away from later in his career where he uses bold strokes of vivid colour (as seen in the one below).

"Vincents Room"

There are five versions of this painting, 3 oil on canvas and 2 sketches. Vincent was so pleased with this particular painting he wrote to his brother with the details "The walls are pale violet. The floor is of red tiles. The wood of the bed and chairs is the yellow of fresh butter, the sheets and pillows very light greenish-citron. The coverlet scarlet. The window green. The toilet table orange, the basin blue.The doors lilac. And that is all--there is nothing in this room with its closed shutters. The broad lines of the furniture again must express inviolable rest. Portraits on the walls, and a mirror and a towel and some clothes. The frame--as there is no white in the picture--will be white. This by way of revenge for the enforced rest I was obliged to take. "

"Woman Sewing" watercolour, 1881

"The potato eaters" lithograph, 1885

Van Gogh completed a group of works that portrayed the poor, this is one of those.

I've never really looked at many Van Gogh's art works much before because the few I had seen were not my favourite style of art. And so I never really realised he did some of the more realistic artwork like the last few pieces you posted up here. I like them, they're quite lovely! Thanks for enlightening me!!! :)

Popular posts from this blog

Washing day
Wash on Monday,
Iron of Tuesday,
Mend of Wednesday,
Churn on Thursday,
Clean on Friday,
Bake on Saturday,
Rest on Sunday.
Sometimes the ordinary and mundane have a quiet beauty we haven't really taken much notice of. Today's art is all about the washing on the line and some of these paintings are quite striking.

All quotes used today are by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Enjoy.

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."

"Home is the nicest word there is"

"The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes, and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies"
And what happens after the washing is dry . . . the ironing!

One of the most popular topics among women Christian bloggers is the issue of whether women and girls should only wear skirts and dresses or is it ok to wear slacks/jeans. Some say Christian women should only wear skirts/dresses, others say it isn't a sin issue therefore it doesn't matter as long as the outfit remains modest. Others say skirts should be to the ground, others are happy at knee length. When you look across the blogs the responses are a mixed bag and it must be confusing to those women trying to decide which way to turn. So what do I think? This is my own personal convictions on the topic and I am not telling anyone else what to wear. I grew up wearing skirts/dresses almost exclusively. All the women in my family - young and old - wore skirts and dresses. I simply wasn't allow to wear anything different. I accepted this quite happierly as a child but as I got older (into my teens) it began to niggle me, partly because I began to stand out which wasn't s…

Art Friday: Susan Wheeler
Illustrator
Todays art is all about cute little mice and bunnies. I think they are adorable and I hope you do to. My favourite is the top one - I just wish I could join them for a cup of tea and scones!

Some families are well off, other families struggle financially, some have periods of poverty, others have burst of wealth. We are all different when it comes to how much money we bring in each week, how much money is in the bank or how big or small our debts are. We are all different, which shouldn’t surprise anyone. However I have noticed a growing trend among some Christian families to share with everyone how poor they are, how much they are struggling, how old the washing machine is or all the things they do without. In fact some bloggers activity encourage women to give up their jobs and return home and live in poverty as this is seen as the ultimate Christian sacrifice (interestingly I have seen this done by women who are so much more financially better off which even worse). Some families do exceptionally well on a very low income and others do very badly on a high income. However, what concerns me is the boastfulness of those who have chosen to live in poverty as if those who…

Who remembers free school milk?
I can.
And yuck . . . warm, creamy milk in glass bottles that tasted horrible.
Why were the bottles always left in the sun to get warm, especially in summer? They could sit for quite sometime until recess, some probably went slighly off!
And if you forgot to shake the bottle you got a mouth full of clumpy cream!
The programme started at the beginning of the 20th century with all children in kindergarten, infant and primary schools receiving free milk to improve their nutrition and general health. Between 1951 and 1973 the Commonwealth Schools’ Free Milk Scheme provided one third of a pint of whole milk per day to primary school children throughout Australia. The scheme ceased om 1973 but reintroduced in 1994.
Providing the milk had cost $72,000 in 1951, whereas it had grown in cost to just over $10 million in 1969. By 1970 the government was starting to wonder if the programme was producing any benefit, except turning children off milk. This document …